LOS ANGELES (June 30, 2004) — Michael Frank Goodwin, former business partner of Mickey Thompson, pled not guilty June 29 to charges he conspired to kill the legendary racer and his wife Trudy.
Mr. Goodwin appeared in Los Angeles County court for the first time since that court filed charges against him. He continues to be held without bail, according to the L.A. District Attorney's office. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 8.
Earlier this month, L.A. County prosecutors charged Mr. Goodwin with two counts of murder and special circumstances of lying in wait and multiple murders after a California appellate court ruled Orange County had no jurisdiction to try Mr. Goodwin. Orange County prosecutors had filed similar charges against Mr. Goodwin in 2001 and held him without bail until dropping the case in May.
The Thompsons were gunned down in the driveway of their home in 1988 by two unidentified shooters who reportedly fled on bicycles and remain at large. Mr. Goodwin, who had a falling out with Mr. Thompson over a business deal, has been a suspect in the case since shortly after the murders.